Quitting smoking is no easy feat, but many smokers are turning to vaping to help them out.  A recent study(1) in England found that e-cigarettes are 60% more effective in helping smokers quit than by going cold turkey or using nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) like patches and gum. So it’s no surprise that more than half of the UK’s vapers are ex-smokers, with a third using vaping as a way to quit smoking.

Vaping offers an alternative to smoking for people who are unable or unwilling to quit the use of nicotine. The potential for reducing your exposure to risk (when compared to combustible cigarettes) is largely due to the fact that they do not involve burning tobacco. Alternatives to cigarettes that involve no burning are likely to emit far fewer and lower levels of toxicants.  A recent report found that, while e-cigarettes are not risk free, and are addictive, smokers who switch to vaping can expect to reduce their risks of smoking related diseases. Find out more about whether vaping is less risky than smoking.

Read on to find out how to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, as well as what happens when you quit smoking and start to vape.

Read More: Beginner's Guide to Vaping

Can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking?

Whilst vaping is not licensed by MHRA as a cessation product yet, thousands of people in the UK have stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette, but with no tobacco, no ash, no tar and no smoke odour* :

*By 'no tar' we mean no tobacco derived tar. This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance

Controlled nicotine delivery

Going cold turkey with nicotine can be a struggle, and vaping means you can still get a nicotine fix in a similar way to smoking. With vaping, you also have more control over the amount of nicotine you get compared to other products as e-liquids come in a variety of strengths you can choose from. For Vuse, the nicotine strength is always listed on the packaging of our products.

Similar throat hit

The nicotine hit in your throat is something you don’t know you’ll miss until it’s gone. Vaping gives you the same throat hit, but with more control, thanks to the variety of nicotine strengths, range of flavours and less toxicants than cigarette smoke.

Inhaling and exhaling

This is something many smokers miss, but vaping creates a similar sensation.

Hand to mouth action

Like inhaling and exhaling, that hand to mouth action is something you might miss, but when you vape you use the same action as you would if you were smoking.

How to use electronic cigarettes to quit smoking

There’s a dedicated NHS page: using e-cigarettes to stop smoking where you can find more information about this. Some of the points we believe it is important to consider include vape as often as you need to, especially at the start, vape as often as you need to take your mind off your cigarette cravings. You might need to experiment with different nicotine strengths until you find the one that satisfies you.

It is also important to choose the right strength of e-liquid to satisfy your needs. If you are a heavy smoker who is trying to quit, we would recommend starting with a higher strength. If you’re not a heavy smoker then a lower strength would be advisable. When you start vaping, the number one rule is no more cigarettes. Don’t be tempted, even by just one. When you get the craving, reach for your vape instead.

Choosing the right device

Before making the switch from smoking to vaping, it’s important to have done your research. At Vuse, whilst our products are not licensed as tobacco cessation products, we offer a range of different vape kits.  We recommend you get started with a rechargeable ‘closed system’ device such as the Vuse Pro as you just choose your flavour and strength, pop in the pod and you are ready to go.  Because  pod mods are accompanied by liquid pods intended to be used with the device, closed vaping devices offer more control over what liquid is vaped and the way the liquid is heated compared to open systems.  Alternatively, you can try our range of disposable vapes which offers up to 800 puffs* with no charging. All Vuse GO flavours are also available in our range of pods which offers up to 1900 puffs per pack**.

Choosing the right e-liquid

Here at Vuse we offer wide range of e-liquids to suit a wide range of preferences, range from 0mg-18mg, while our Vuse GO disposable devices are available up to 20mg . Our data suggests that smokers tend to prefer higher nicotine strengths in either tobacco or mint flavour*** when they start vaping.. The key is to work out which nicotine delivery you prefer. For example, you could start at a higher nicotine strength and over time, you can gradually reduce your nicotine levels to a strength that suits you.

Read More: Beginner's Guide to E-liquids

What happens when you quit smoking and nicotine completely?

As stated by NHS, from the moment you stop smoking, your body starts its recovery process. During this time, especially in the first month, you may find that you experience some nicotine withdrawal and recovery symptoms. Your craving for nicotine will improve after the first 2-3 weeks as your body adjusts to being nicotine-free. All withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your body is recovering from the effects of smoking and nicotine. For further support, visit here.

(1) ‘The smoking toolkit study: a national study of smoking and smoking cessation

*Based on laboratory testing of newly manufactured product and may vary depending on an individual’s usage behaviour.

**Based on laboratory testing (including recharging) of Vuse ePod 2 device and may vary depending on an individual’s usage behaviour.

***Based on Kantar ‘Understanding Nicotine Consumer Journey Qualitative Learnings- UK, July 2020 ’